Yesterday we went to Muriwai Beach for a BBQ and a swim. Muriwai Beach is located on the western coast of NZ directly west of Auckland and about 20km north of Piha.
Five of us went to the beach – myself, Bethany, Rand (South Africa), Andy (Germany), and Jochen (Germany). We met up with a couple of Jochen’s friends from England, but I forget their names. We grilled burgers and kicked around a soccer ball for a couple of hours and then swam in the ocean and relaxed on the beach.
The picture above is a view from the top of a rock above the south end of the beach. This area is a breeding ground for gannets. Gannet is some type of seagull. Perhaps it is just the kiwi name for seagull. The top of the rocks on the left and right side of the photo are completely covered in gannets, as well as areas below that are not in the picture. An estimated 1200 pairs of gannets come here every year to nest.
Feel free to continue commenting. It’s the only way I know anyone is reading.
The view is breath taking. I imagine it was warm/mild, but that’s kind of hard to imagine when the temperature didn’t get above 23 here today. I can see the gannets on the rocks. It’s hard to believe that the birds nest there since there doesn’t appear to be any vegetation. Perhaps it’s visible up close.
Comment by Peg Moore — December 4, 2006 @ 12:50 am
I’M READING!!! Just got home after being gone since 9:30 a.m. Headed to bed, and will write more tomorrow. But I probably check your site several times/day! Always excited when there’s a new picture, new text, new places, new friends, new food, new memories you’re making. XOXOX
Comment by Chris Clark — December 4, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
Nice Photo. Hows the photo gallery coming? Interested in seeing the rest of the pics you’ve taken.
Hopefully I can get the photo gallery up before too long. Beth has started working all day, so I should have lots of time at the house alone. I have been pretty busy with stuff lately.
Your photo and description got me wondering just what kind of gannets those are. I don’t think either Dad or I have even ever seen the northern gannet, let alone your kind. So, very cool to hear about them from you and see the *masses* of them on the rock tops. Google (key words: gannet New Zealand) came up with some neat stuff, too–close-up photo of one gannet, map of NZ with gannets’ favorite spots, etc. Our bird book says gannets are “seabirds with large, tapering bills, pointed tails . . . . Larger than most gulls; neck longer. Sexes alike. Fish by plunging from air. Food: Fish, squid. Range: Cold seas (N. Atlantic, S. Africa, Australia. No. of species: World, 9.” And I have NO idea what the difference is between a gannet and a “boobie” (Yes, a “boobie”!), except that the book says boobies are not found in cold seas but in tropical seas. I imagine you recognized at a glance the gannets’ tapering bills and pointed tails . . . but didn’t add them to your description so as not to draw attention to your scholarliness. OK, I also imagine anyone reading this entry is likely thinking: “Enough already!!!!” On a non-goofy (even if still repetitive) note, I’m enjoying your photographic eye and skill almost as much as getting to see the places themselves. You have really got an eye for composition. I suppose (like you mentioned just a bit ago) using a digital camera helps a lot, since it can crop, etc. But, still, getting the original shot and even knowing where to crop are somewhat learned and a lot a gift. Yay for you! For example, your just-previous one of Piha has “composition written all over it” as Grandpa Les once said of an Iowa photo he was enjoying.
OK, well I better keep moving. It just grew dark here, and neighbors’ outdoor Christmas lights are going on. Dad and I got two 4′ wreaths (with white lights) for two (outside) walls of our house. They look awesome! One’s on the east side, facing the sub entry, and one’s on the south side, facing Belcrest Drive. Just so neat. Our first time with outdoor Christmas decor. Just right. And today was the first day of actual snow accumulation (more than just a trace). Actually had flurries–actually looked like one of the snow globes. I loved just sitting at the dining table, with my cup of creamy hazelnut coffee, and looking and looking. (OK, so I know I could’ve put that last paragraph in an email instead of to the world. Oh, well. ) XOXOX
Totally awesome picture!! I’d love to be there and see that kind of place. Fantastic. Enjoy it fully!
You maybe are getting even better at picture taking. In fact it looks like a painting. The pic says south end of the beach, so is there beach beyond the rocks we see or did the beach end? Just so you feel better about the BBQ at the beach and a swim… snowy and icy roads today. Took me double the time to get places I had to go. And it wasn’t even super bad. Tis the season to stay home and get in the hot tub.
Hi mom,
Thanks for researching the gannet info . Here is a close-up picture, if you were looking to identify it further.
I’m glad you are enjoying my photos. I think more than my eye or the ability to crop, the thing that helps the most w/digital is that I can take five pictures of something, experimenting with different things, and only keep the ones that turn out well. Normally I only get one or two really good shots out of 50.
Dad,
As for the beach, you can’t see the beach in those pictures. I am at the far south end of the beach looking south. If you turn around you actually see the beach. The beach ends and then the rocks begin. That seems to be the case here more often than not. In Piha there was actually some beach you could only get to by climbing over a bunch of rocks.
Glad it isn’t snowy and icy here, although I wouldn’t say it has been hot yet.
Cool picture of the single gannet. It’s interesting to look at all the other gannets, too–how they’re all kind of evenly spaced out. Not touching much and not huddled together. Must be their natural instinct/way. Thanks for clarifying about the beach, too. Also interesting . . . especially how different locales have different topography (if that’s the word). Neat that you’re experiencing it.
Oh, yeah, and interesting about your only getting one or two really good shots out of 50. I know the feeling! And I’ve heard professionals say the same thing. How awesome, then, when that one or two come along! Thanks for clueing me in on that. XOXOX
Josh,
You are taking some great pictures. Keep them coming. The coments really add a lot to the pictures. You are now on my favorites list so it make it easy for me to keep up with your travels. I can hardly wait until I can come and see for myself.
Have fun this weekend.
Love,
Sheryl
14 Comments »
Comment by josh — December 3, 2006 @ 6:36 pm
Yesterday we went to Muriwai Beach for a BBQ and a swim. Muriwai Beach is located on the western coast of NZ directly west of Auckland and about 20km north of Piha.
Five of us went to the beach – myself, Bethany, Rand (South Africa), Andy (Germany), and Jochen (Germany). We met up with a couple of Jochen’s friends from England, but I forget their names. We grilled burgers and kicked around a soccer ball for a couple of hours and then swam in the ocean and relaxed on the beach.
The picture above is a view from the top of a rock above the south end of the beach. This area is a breeding ground for gannets. Gannet is some type of seagull. Perhaps it is just the kiwi name for seagull. The top of the rocks on the left and right side of the photo are completely covered in gannets, as well as areas below that are not in the picture. An estimated 1200 pairs of gannets come here every year to nest.
Feel free to continue commenting. It’s the only way I know anyone is reading.
Comment by Clara — December 3, 2006 @ 10:12 pm
The view is breath taking. I imagine it was warm/mild, but that’s kind of hard to imagine when the temperature didn’t get above 23 here today. I can see the gannets on the rocks. It’s hard to believe that the birds nest there since there doesn’t appear to be any vegetation. Perhaps it’s visible up close.
Comment by Peg Moore — December 4, 2006 @ 12:50 am
I’M READING!!!
Just got home after being gone since 9:30 a.m. Headed to bed, and will write more tomorrow. But I probably check your site several times/day! 
Always excited when there’s a new picture, new text, new places, new friends, new food, new memories you’re making. XOXOX
Comment by Chris Clark — December 4, 2006 @ 4:20 pm
Nice Photo. Hows the photo gallery coming? Interested in seeing the rest of the pics you’ve taken.
Comment by josh — December 4, 2006 @ 4:52 pm
Hopefully I can get the photo gallery up before too long. Beth has started working all day, so I should have lots of time at the house alone. I have been pretty busy with stuff lately.
Comment by Peg Moore — December 4, 2006 @ 5:32 pm
Your photo and description got me wondering just what kind of gannets those are. I don’t think either Dad or I have even ever seen the northern gannet, let alone your kind. So, very cool to hear about them from you and see the *masses* of them on the rock tops. Google (key words: gannet New Zealand) came up with some neat stuff, too–close-up photo of one gannet, map of NZ with gannets’ favorite spots, etc. Our bird book says gannets are “seabirds with large, tapering bills, pointed tails . . . . Larger than most gulls; neck longer. Sexes alike. Fish by plunging from air. Food: Fish, squid. Range: Cold seas (N. Atlantic, S. Africa, Australia. No. of species: World, 9.” And I have NO idea what the difference is between a gannet and a “boobie” (Yes, a “boobie”!), except that the book says boobies are not found in cold seas but in tropical seas. I imagine you recognized at a glance the gannets’ tapering bills and pointed tails . . . but didn’t add them to your description so as not to draw attention to your scholarliness.
OK, I also imagine anyone reading this entry is likely thinking: “Enough already!!!!” 
On a non-goofy (even if still repetitive) note, I’m enjoying your photographic eye and skill almost as much as getting to see the places themselves. You have really got an eye for composition. I suppose (like you mentioned just a bit ago) using a digital camera helps a lot, since it can crop, etc. But, still, getting the original shot and even knowing where to crop are somewhat learned and a lot a gift. Yay for you! For example, your just-previous one of Piha has “composition written all over it” as Grandpa Les once said of an Iowa photo he was enjoying.
OK, well I better keep moving. It just grew dark here, and neighbors’ outdoor Christmas lights are going on. Dad and I got two 4′ wreaths (with white lights) for two (outside) walls of our house. They look awesome! One’s on the east side, facing the sub entry, and one’s on the south side, facing Belcrest Drive. Just so neat. Our first time with outdoor Christmas decor. Just right. And today was the first day of actual snow accumulation (more than just a trace). Actually had flurries–actually looked like one of the snow globes. I loved just sitting at the dining table, with my cup of creamy hazelnut coffee, and looking and looking. (OK, so I know I could’ve put that last paragraph in an email instead of to the world. Oh, well.
) XOXOX
Comment by dad — December 4, 2006 @ 10:00 pm
Totally awesome picture!! I’d love to be there and see that kind of place. Fantastic. Enjoy it fully!
You maybe are getting even better at picture taking. In fact it looks like a painting. The pic says south end of the beach, so is there beach beyond the rocks we see or did the beach end? Just so you feel better about the BBQ at the beach and a swim… snowy and icy roads today. Took me double the time to get places I had to go. And it wasn’t even super bad. Tis the season to stay home and get in the hot tub.
Comment by josh — December 5, 2006 @ 1:18 am
Hi mom,
. Here is a close-up picture, if you were looking to identify it further.
Thanks for researching the gannet info
I’m glad you are enjoying my photos. I think more than my eye or the ability to crop, the thing that helps the most w/digital is that I can take five pictures of something, experimenting with different things, and only keep the ones that turn out well. Normally I only get one or two really good shots out of 50.
Dad,
As for the beach, you can’t see the beach in those pictures. I am at the far south end of the beach looking south. If you turn around you actually see the beach. The beach ends and then the rocks begin. That seems to be the case here more often than not. In Piha there was actually some beach you could only get to by climbing over a bunch of rocks.
Glad it isn’t snowy and icy here, although I wouldn’t say it has been hot yet.
Comment by Clara — December 5, 2006 @ 7:56 am
The close-up photo was beautiful. In addition to seeing all the baby birds closer, I know what the adult gannet looks like. Thanks.
Comment by dad — December 5, 2006 @ 2:57 pm
Cool picture of the single gannet. It’s interesting to look at all the other gannets, too–how they’re all kind of evenly spaced out. Not touching much and not huddled together. Must be their natural instinct/way. Thanks for clarifying about the beach, too. Also interesting . . . especially how different locales have different topography (if that’s the word). Neat that you’re experiencing it.
Comment by dad — December 5, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
Oh, yeah, and interesting about your only getting one or two really good shots out of 50. I know the feeling! And I’ve heard professionals say the same thing. How awesome, then, when that one or two come along! Thanks for clueing me in on that. XOXOX
Comment by josh — December 5, 2006 @ 6:56 pm
Hey Mom,
.
Make sure you check to see if you are logged in as yourself, and if not, click the logout link
Comment by Peg Moore — December 5, 2006 @ 9:49 pm
OOPS!
Comment by Sheryl — December 8, 2006 @ 9:52 am
Josh,
You are taking some great pictures. Keep them coming. The coments really add a lot to the pictures. You are now on my favorites list so it make it easy for me to keep up with your travels. I can hardly wait until I can come and see for myself.
Have fun this weekend.
Love,
Sheryl
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